PLANS to put the public at the heart of policing in the most radical shake-up of the service in half a century are to come under scrutiny from MPs - but what do you think of the proposals?

The Home Affairs Select Committee will examine the government's proposals for locally-elected police and crime commissioners to be introduced in 2012 to help "re-establish the links between the police and the public".

Policing minister Nick Herbert, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson, and Sir Hugh Orde, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), will all give evidence to the influential committee.

Chairman Keith Vaz said the panel was keen to examine policing policies, especially given that it accounts for more than half of the Home Office budget at a time when the department is facing cuts.

The elected commissioners, efforts to reduce police bureaucracy, force structures, and officer numbers are all expected to come under scrutiny.

Home Secretary Theresa May outlined proposals in the Commons on Monday which she said would see officers return to being crime fighters instead of form writers.

The commissioners will be in charge of multimillion-pound force budgets and will have the power to hire and fire chief constables, as well as set the force's strategic plan, ensuring it meets local demands.

Police and crime panels would also be brought in in a "robust overview role", Mrs May said.

The proposals raised the prospect of "community crime fighters", with members of the public taking part in joint patrols with the police.

An increase in the number of special constables - back to their peak of 67,000 in the 1950s, compared with around 15,000 today - will also be encouraged.

The proposals - Policing In The 21st Century: Reconnecting Police And The People - would also see a new US-style National Crime Agency come into force from 2013, replacing the Serious Organised Crime Agency, which was formed just four years ago.

They also envisage Acpo's primary focus being professional leadership for the police service, rather than a national body taking operational decisions on national policing matters.

Shadow home secretary Alan Johnson said the cost of elected commissioners had been estimated at £50 million and labelled the proposal an "unnecessary, unwanted and expensive diversion".

What do you think of the police shake-up plans? Are you in favour of any of the ideas, such as locally elected police and crime commissioners or more public volunteers? What else would you like to see happen which would make the police more efficient? Add your comments below.